Sacramento, Calif. – As the nation celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, the California Latino Legislative Caucus (CLLC) announced that Senator Lena Gonzalez (D – Long Beach) has been elected to serve as the next Caucus Chair. The CLLC also elected two vice-chairs, with Assemblymember Liz Ortega serving as the Northern California Vice Chair and Assemblymember Juan Carrillo serving as the Southern California Vice Chair. Today, the Latino Legislative Caucus is comprised of thirty-seven members (ten Senators, twenty-four Assembly Members) and three auxiliary members (constitutional officers). The CLLC serves as a forum to advance policy and develop avenues to empower the Latino community and improve the quality of life for all working families in California.
Senator Lena Gonzalez made history in 2020 as the first Latina(o) to chair the Senate Transportation Committee and the only woman to hold this position in the past two decades. Her leadership continued to shine when she became Majority Whip in 2021, followed by her appointment as Senate Majority Leader in 2024. Additionally, she served as Vice Chair of the CLLC for a two-year term starting in 2022. She is the author of Senate Bill 1016, the Latino and Indigenous Health Disparities Reduction Act, recently signed into law to improve health equity among Latino and Indigenous Mesoamerican communities.
“As we reflect on the foundational work of those who came before us this Hispanic Heritage Month, I am truly honored and humbled to be entrusted by my colleagues with the responsibility to carry forward the remarkable legacy of the Latino Caucus,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez. “As Chair, I remain committed to advancing policies that support our communities and uplift future generations on such seminal issues as health equity, climate action, worker’s rights, economic opportunity and more. I look forward to working with our new Vice Chairs and my colleagues to create meaningful change on the issues that matter most to all Californians.”
Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D – San Leandro) is a longtime labor leader and activist from an immigrant family who has dedicated her career to fighting for the working-class people of Alameda County. Her family’s struggles have shaped the values that guide her work. As the first Latina elected to the Alameda Labor Council, Liz represented more than 135,000 workers in the East Bay and was at the forefront of struggles for equitable wages, health care, and safe, secure jobs. As the first Latina Chair of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment, she has focused on issues of workplace safety, workers’ rights, and creating good, family-supporting jobs.
“It is both humbling and exciting to be chosen by my colleagues to serve the people of California as part of the leadership team of the Latino Caucus,” said Assemblymember Liz Ortega. “I know the work we do has a lasting impact that carries on for generations, and I’m ready to tackle the many challenges our Latino communities face. As the Northern California Vice Chair, I am committed to making change that will benefit working families and communities, who are the backbone of our economy and part of the rich cultural fabric that makes California so vibrant and diverse. Together, we can build a prosperous future.”
Throughout his career as a public servant, Assemblymember Juan Carrillo (D - Palmdale) has advocated for affordable housing to address the homelessness crisis, increasing green space, and supporting local small businesses as they recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Before entering public office, Carrillo served as a member of the Palmdale City Council and city planner for 15 years — 10 of which were with the City of Palmdale. He was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to Los Angeles when he was 15.
“It’s a profound honor to step into this role and champion meaningful initiatives that will shape a brighter future for our diverse Latino communities,” said Assemblymember Juan Carrillo. “I’m excited to continue working to empower immigrant families, workers, small businesses, students, and parents across California. I’m also deeply grateful to my colleagues for trusting me to serve as the Southern California Vice Chair. Being part of this new chapter during Hispanic Heritage Month is especially meaningful as we celebrate the contributions of our Latino communities and look ahead to the new legislative session.”
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Senator Lena Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. In the Senate, she advocates for working families and champions various priorities, such as fighting for a clean environment, digital equity, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, and the economic prosperity of small businesses. Her landmark legislative achievements include bills enacted to end neighborhood oil drilling, provide broadband for all, and expand paid sick leave. She lives in Long Beach with her family. Website of Senator Lena Gonzalez: www.sen.ca.gov/gonzalez
Assemblymember Liz Ortega is Chair of the Assembly Committee on Labor & Employment and sits on the Assembly Committees on Budget, Insurance, Human Services and Privacy and Consumer Protection. She represents the 20th Assembly District, encompassing all or a portion of the cities of Hayward, San Leandro, Union City, Dublin, Pleasanton and the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley.
Assemblymember Juan Carrillo proudly represents the 39th Assembly District which includes the cities and communities of Palmdale, Lancaster, Lake Los Angeles, Sun Village, Victorville, Hesperia, and Adelanto.
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STAFF CONTACT: Leoda Valenzuela / (562) 338-3653 / Leoda.Valenzuela@sen.ca.gov
